I have driven past Shiffer Park a hundred times while going back and forth to South Coast Plaza, and never took the time to stop and finally check it out until this past week. It is right next to the popular street Bear and is very limited on parking but big on fun! Once we found a parking spot, the kids took off playing on the giant play structure. The structure is separate from the swings and conveniently located right next to the bathrooms. The only downside to this playground is that it is right off a major street – parents with little toddlers need to spend time keep a careful eye on their kiddos. Don’t leave the bikes at home. This park has a massive pathway with lots of twists and turns throughout the grass. Your kids...

Angel’s Playground will be a dream come true for your children. It is located right in the heart of Costa Mesa right next to the OC Fair & Event Center. The park has something for every child to enjoy, and can provide your kids with hours of endless childhood fun. The park is right next to Tewinkle Park, so we recommend bringing your bikes and a picnic lunch to spend the entire day at this park. The playground is huge! There are endless climbing opportunities for kids and my kids favorite – the giant rocking boat. The surface under the play structure is padded for added safety, and there are plenty of benches and picnic tables surrounding the park. There is a large covered area for birthday parties (that needs to be reserved through the city) and lots...

My husband has been going to Tewinkle Park in Costa Mesa since he was just a young boy. It is our favorite park to go bike riding with the kids and feed the birds. (Although OC Parks does not recommend feeding the birds anymore..sorry.) Over the weekend, we packed the kids bikes into the car and headed over to Tewinkle Park. We brought a picnic lunch along with us and made a family day out of our visit. The kids rode their bikes along the windy paths that go throughout the park, and my husband and I enjoyed spending quality time under the shade of a tree watching the kids play. The park has lots of big beautiful ponds filled with hundreds of ducks and geese. There are rocks for the kids to climb on, and grass that...

Tucked away in the beautiful terrain just behind the Costa Mesa golf course lies one of Orange County’s best kept secrets: Goathill Junction Railroad. These model trains run on 5 miles of track and wind through the scenic park. The trains are small and represent 1 1/2″, 2 1/2″ and 3 1/2″ scale equipment. The seats are carpeted and you simply straddle the train like you’re sitting on a horse. There are no seat belts, so hold on to your child although the trains do not go very fast. Not only are these mini trains fun to ride on but they are FREE! They are are operated by Orange County Model Engineers Inc. so although they are free, donations are welcome and they help keep the trains running. Public rides are conducted on the third Saturday and following...